Father Corapi Speaks

We recently had a chance to chat with Fr. John Corapi, the dynamic, inspirational preacher of the Gospel, whose talks are among the most popular on Catholic radio and television. We discussed a wide range of topics, including his return to the faith from the grips of the Devil, his charism as an apostolic preacher, the challenges facing the Church today, and the theme of his upcoming conference on the Holy Spirit, “Lord & Giver of Life.”

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NOR: Father, your conversion story is simply astounding. It’s a true testament to the working of God’s grace in the lives of everyday people. Give us a brief account of your story.

Fr. Corapi: My conversion story, if it can be called that, is really the radical re-conversion of a typical small-town kid who found great success in the world and lost it all.

NOR: Take us through your early life: home, education, career.

Fr. Corapi: I grew up in a typically Catholic Italian family; we attended Mass and received the sacraments regularly. I went to a Catholic grade school for a while before transferring to public schools. My life followed a routine path. After high school I enlisted in the Army, and then went to college and received a B.B.A. (Bachelor of Business Administration). I moved to Las Vegas and worked as an accountant, then as director of internal control for one of the major casinos there. I then worked in law enforcement for the Nevada Gaming Control Board. From there I went to Los Angeles and worked in the real-estate business. A good number of my clients and friends were part of the entertainment industry — movies and music, as well as professional athletes. I had a lot of success, drove a Ferrari, etc. I lived in the fast lane, eventually partying more than I worked.

NOR: Did you lose the faith along the way?